Device, apparatus, and method of adipose tissue treatment

ABSTRACT

An improved procedure for performing liposuction is obtained by utilizing a needle that includes a laser source conductor with one end of the needle being configured for insertion into a target adipose skin volume and the other end being coupled to a laser source. The needle may include one or more channels for extracting the treated adipose area. A vacuum source can be used in the extraction of the treated adipose. Further, the first end of the needle may include a cap or end-piece that reduces the build up of carbon deposits. A temperature sensor may be used as input to adjust the laser power and prevent over exposure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application being filed under 37CFR 1.53(b) and 35 USC 111 as a divisional of the presently pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/357,564 filed on Jan. 22, 2009, whichapplication claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application for Patents61/023,194 filed on Jan. 24, 2008 and U.S. Provisional Application forPatents 61/085,424 filed on Aug. 1, 2008, all of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present device, apparatus, and method relate to the field of adiposetissue treatment and aesthetic body sculpturing.

Liposuction is a technique for removal of fat tissue from differentsites in a particular human body. The process changes the externalcontours of the body and sometimes is described as body sculpturing. Thefat is removed by a suction device via a cannula, or a small flexibletube inserted into a body cavity for draining off fluid or introducingmedication, inserted into the appropriate site in the body. The processis painful and sometimes causes excessive bleeding.

Recently, liposuction procedures have been improved by the use ofinfrared laser radiation delivered through a fiber inserted into acannula and introduced into the treated tissue site. Laser radiationliquefies the adipose tissue. The liquefied tissue is then removed bysuction or may be left in the body, where it gradually dissipates. Laserassisted liposuction is considered to be a more advanced and minimallyinvasive procedure when compared to traditional liposuction techniques.

High temperature developed at the tip of the fiber causes frequent fibertip carbonization, forcing the treatment provider to remove the fiber,clean the carbonized end or cleave the end and insert it back into thecannula for continued treatment. The cannula with the fiber also has tobe removed for liquefied tissue suction performed through the same skinport. The fiber and the cannula have to be sterilized between thedifferent processes and patients. Alternatively, a new sterile fiber andcannula would have to be used. All of the above restrictions have theeffect of slowing down the process, increasing the treated subjectdiscomfort and increasing the cost of the treatment.

Thus, there is a need in the art and the related industries for asuitable solution to these and other existing problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A variety of embodiments may be provided to achieve an improvedtechnique to conduct liposuction of a target adipose tissue volume. Forinstance, one embodiment includes a needle with an inner core forconducting laser energy, with one end being configured for insertioninto the target volume and the other end being coupleable to a lasersource. The needle is inserted into the target volume of adipose tissueand at least one laser source connected to needle irradiates the targetvolume of the adipose tissue and melts the tissue. In some embodiments,two or more laser sources may be utilized with at least one laser sourceoperating in a continuous operation mode and at least one laser sourceoperating in a pulse operation mode. In such an embodiment, the laseroperating in the continuous operation mode (CW) heats up the adiposetissue and the laser source operating in the pulse mode inducesmechanical stress on the adipose tissue.

In some embodiments, a temperature probe may be utilized to monitor thetemperature of the target volume of the adipose tissue and providefeedback to the laser source. Advantageously, this aspect results inallowing the at least one laser source to be adjusted avoid excessivedamage to the target volume of adipose tissue.

These and other embodiments will be more fully appreciated by reviewingthe detailed description and the related figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The disclosure is provided by way of non-limiting examples only, withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the first exemplary embodiment ofa disposable laser radiation conveying needle.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a cross section of the needle ofFIG. 1.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic illustrations of additional exemplaryneedle cross sections.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the second exemplary embodiment ofa disposable laser radiation conveying needle with a carbonizationresisting tip.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of theapparatus for laser assisted liposuction employing the present needle.

FIGS. 6A-6C are schematic illustrations of the third exemplaryembodiment of a disposable laser radiation conveying needle withliquefied fat removal channels.

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of an apparatus and method of tissuetreatment employing the present disposable laser radiation conveyingneedle.

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of the forth exemplary embodiment ofa disposable laser radiation conveying needle.

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of an additional exemplary embodimentof an apparatus for laser assisted liposuction employing the presentneedle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The principles and execution of the device, apparatus, and methoddescribed herein may be understood with reference to the drawings,wherein like reference numerals denote like elements through the severalviews and the accompanying description of non-limiting, exemplaryembodiments.

The term “needle,” as used in the text of the present disclosure, meansa flexible or rigid light guide configured to be inserted into thesubject tissue to deliver laser radiation to a target volume of adiposetissue. In certain embodiments, the needle can be configured to withdrawliquid from the target volume in addition to the above stated uses.

The term adipose is known to those skilled in the art, and onenon-limiting definition, provided for convenience only includes fattyskin tissue, or skin tissue consisting of, resembling, or relating tofat. Adipose tissue is a type of connective tissue consisting of adiposecells, which are specialized to produce and store large fat globules.These globules are composed mainly of glycerol esters of oleic,palmitic, and stearic acids.

Reference is made to FIG. 1, which is a schematic illustration of thefirst exemplary embodiment of a disposable laser radiation conveyingneedle. Needle 100 is practically a needle shaped solid or hollow lightconducting body 104 having a first end 108 and a second end 112 (In thecontext of the present disclosure “light” and “laser radiation” have thesame meaning.). The first end 108 of needle 100 can be shaped forpiercing and penetrating the skin of a subject (not shown) and thesecond end 112 of the needle 100, depending on the length of the needle100, is adapted to connect directly to a source of laser radiation bymeans of fiber optics type connector 116 or with the help of anadditional interim cable. The length of needle 100 may vary from a fewmillimeters to a few hundred millimeters and depends on the type oftreatment required or being performed. The connection to the source oflaser radiation may be performed by any type of fiber optics or similartype connectors. Line 118 designates the optical axis of needle 100.

FIG. 2 is a cross section view of needle 100 taken at line I-I of FIG.1, and is shown to have a round cross section. Needle 100 includes asolid light conducting core 120, a cladding 124 having a refractiveindex lower than core 120, and a protective jacket 128 that protects thesensitive fiber and provides the necessary stiffness to the needle 100.In some embodiments, as best shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, a jacket 132 mayhave an elliptical shape (FIG. 3B) or the jacket 136 may have apolygonal (FIG. 3C) cross section. The diameter of core 120 can vary butoperable embodiments may be 100 micron to 1500 micron, in someembodiments the diameter of cladding 124 may range from 200 micron to2500 micron and the size of jacket 128, 132, and 136 may be 500 micronto 3000 micron or even more. Connection of needle body 104 to connector116 may be performed by crimping, epoxy glue, or any other well knownmeans that is established in the fiber optics industry.

First end 108 of needle 100 may be shaped for piercing the skin of asubject and may be terminated by a plane perpendicular to the opticalaxis 118 or oriented at an angle to the optical axis 118 of needle 100.Alternatively, end 108 may have a radius or an obtuse angle. In suchcase, a skin incision is made by any well known surgical means and theneedle is introduced into the tissue through the skin incision. Otherneedle end 108 shapes that improve either skin penetration properties orlaser power delivery quality are also possible and anticipated byvarious embodiments.

In an alternative embodiment, laser radiation emitted through the end ofneedle 100, assists needle 100 into the skin penetration process byproviding a skin incision suitable for continuous or pulsed laser power.Such laser-performed incision may be advantageous in some aspectsbecause it is accompanied by a simultaneous haemostatic effect, whichcoagulates the blood, reduces patient bleeding and shortens the recoveryperiod.

In a second exemplary embodiment of a disposable laser radiationconveying needle shown in FIG. 4, the first end 108 of needle 100 isterminated by a sapphire, YAG (Yttrium Aluminum Garnett), or diamondplate 140, or coating. During use, certain materials resulting frominteraction of the tissue with high laser power, deposit on end 108 ofneedle 100. These carbonized deposits increase laser light absorption atthe end 108 of needle 100 and this deposit should be periodicallyremoved. Strong laser power absorption in carbonized deposit canincrease local temperature at the end 108 resulting in needle damage.Sapphire, YAG, and diamond or other similar material are generallyresistant to high temperature and their use as a termination of thefirst end 108 of needle 100 significantly improves needle life, and itscarbonization resistance.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of anapparatus for laser assisted liposuction employing the illustratedembodiments, or other embodiments of the needle. Connector 116 connectsneedle 100 via an optical cable 156 to a source of laser radiation 160configured to provide laser radiation emitted by one or more lasersincorporated in the source 160 to needle 100. Laser radiation source 160may be packaged into a controller 164, or may be a stand alone unit. Insome embodiments, needle 100 may be made long enough to connect directlyto the source of laser radiation 160. In such cases, optical cable 156may become redundant. Controller 164 may operate the source of laserradiation 160 in a pulse, continuous or other radiation mode.

Controller 164 may further include a facility 168 for adipose tissuelaser treatment products removal and a display 172, and/or a set ofbuttons providing a user interface and synchronizing operation of saidsource of laser radiation 160 with facility 168. Controller 164 furtherincludes a temperature feedback loop 176 configured to receivetemperature from a temperature sensor (see FIG. 8) and adapt laser powersuch as to provide safe tissue treatment. When laser radiation of properpower and wavelength is applied to adipose tissue, it liquefies thetissue and, in particular, the fat. The liquefied adipose tissue may beremoved or may be left in the body, where it gradually dissipatesthrough the body. FIGS. 6A-C, collectively referred to as FIG. 6 is aschematic illustration of the third exemplary embodiment of a disposablelaser radiation conveying needle with liquefied fat removal channels.FIG. 6A is a cross section of a disposable needle 600. Needle 600 has atype of jacket 180 implemented as a structure containing a number ofliquid conducting channels 184. Jacket 180 may be connected to facility168, which may be a stand-alone facility or incorporated into controller164 facility for liquefied fat and other adipose tissue laser treatmentproducts removal. Needle 600 includes a solid light conducting core 620,a cladding 624 having a refractive index lower than core 620. A suctionor vacuum provided by a pump (not shown) that is a part of facility 168removes the liquefied tissue. Optical cable 156 (FIG. 5) may beimplemented to have liquid conducting channels 184 in addition tooptical fiber or a liquid collecting chamber communicating with aseparate liquid conducting channel included in cable 156.

FIG. 6B illustrates a flexible or rigid needle 186 having a hollow lightguide 188. The open end of guide 188, which is introduced into theadipose tissue, is terminated by a sapphire, diamond, or YAG window 190.Similar to needle 600 of FIG. 6A, needle 186 has channels 184 forliquefied fat and other adipose tissue laser treatment products removal.

FIG. 6C is an illustration of a needle 202 the body 204 of which is madeof sapphire. Such needle is more resistant than plastic or glass needlesto deposition on it of carbonized laser treatment products. Needle 202may have a jacket (not shown) with liquid conducting channels.Alternatively, the jacket may be made of porous material with a suitabledegree of porosity.

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of the method of tissue treatmentwith the apparatus of various embodiments presented in the presentdisclosure, as well as embodiments not presented. For adipose tissue 210treatment, needle 100, or any other needle described above or otherneedle embodiments incorporating one or more of the above-describedelements, is connected by its second end 112 to a source of laserradiation 160 located in controller 164. First end 108 of needle 100pierces the subject skin or tissue 210 and enables insertion of needle100 into a target volume 218 of adipose tissue 210 to be treated.Controller 164 operates laser source 160 to irradiate target volume 218of adipose tissue 210. Radiation provided by one or more laser sources160 liquefies at least a section of adipose tissue 210 adjacent to thefirst end 108 of needle 100. Controller 164 operates adipose tissuelaser treatment products removal facility 168 that removes liquefied fatsimultaneously with laser source 160.

In order to facilitate the process of tissue melting locationobservation an additional, second laser, visible through skin/tissuelaser, such as a HeNe laser may be coupled to the needle or cable 156.This second laser, which is visible through skin, may assist thetreatment provider in repositioning first end 108 of needle 100. In analternative embodiment, a temperature sensitive cream, or a temperaturesensitive liquid crystal paste, or a liquid crystal film may be spreadon the tissue over the treated adipose tissue section. The paste/creamand the film may be such as Chromazone ink commercially available fromLiquid Crystal Resources/Hallcrest, Inc. Glenview Ill. 60026 U.S.A.Needle 100 may be disposed of upon completion of treatment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a forth exemplary embodiment of adisposable laser radiation conveying needle. Needle 230 is similar toany one of earlier described needles or may incorporate one or more ofthe afore-described aspects. It connects to a handle 240 which, with thehelp of optical cable 244, connects to controller 164. A temperaturesensor 248 is mounted on a cantilever 252 configured to follow the firstend 256 of needle 230 and measure the temperature of the tissue surface262. Sensor 248 measures the temperature on the surface of theskin/tissue, and indicates or cuts-off the laser power when thetreatment should be discontinued to avoid damage to the tissue surface262. Temperature sensor 248 may be a contact sensor, being in contactwith skin 262 or a non-contact sensor. During the treatment, thetreatment provider moves handle 240 back and forth, as shown by arrow242 within tissue 264. Temperature sensor 248 follows laser radiationemitting first end 256 of needle 230 and provides tissue/skin 262temperature reading to controller 164 controlling the laser powercoupled to the treated tissue volume 260. A feedback loop 176 ofcontroller 164 is configured to read the temperature sensor and adaptlaser power such as to provide safe tissue treatment. Cantilever 252with temperature sensor 248 attached to it may be implemented as a partof handle 240 or as a removable and disposable or reusable part.

As disclosed above, source of laser radiation 160 may contain one ormore laser sources operating at the same or different wavelengths.Accordingly, in an additional embodiment, laser beams from two lasersources with different wavelengths could be used to optimizesimultaneous adipose tissue (or fat) destruction and blood hemostatis.The laser wavelengths may be, for example, 1,064 micrometer wavelengthprovided by a NdYAG laser and a 0.9 micrometer wavelength provided by alaser diode. Another suitable set of wavelengths is 1,064 micron and0.532 micron. Such combination of laser wavelengths reduces bleeding,makes the fat removal procedure safer and shortens the patient recoverytime.

In yet a further embodiment, two lasers guided through the same needlemay operate each in different modes of operation. For example, acontinuous wave (CW) laser with wavelength of 0.808 micron, 0.980 micronor about 1,500 micron may be delivered to target volume 218 (FIG. 7) ofadipose tissue to preheat the volume to a desired temperature andliquefy the adipose tissue (fat).

Following this or almost simultaneously with a CW operating laser thatheats-up the tissue, a pulsed IR laser, for example an Ho—(Holmium),Tm—(Thulium) or Er:Yag (Erbium Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) laser generatingpulses in sub-millisecond or millisecond range may be applied to thesame target tissue volume 218. During the course of the laser pulse, thetarget tissue (cells and intercellular fluid) near the end 108 of needle100 changes to overheated (high-pressure) gas forming expanding microbubbles collapsing at the end of the pulse. Mechanical stress developedby the pulsed laser action can increase the rate of membrane of adiposecells disruption and release of liquefied fat from the cell. Thisopto-mechanical action of laser radiation makes fat removal/suction moreefficient.

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of an additional embodiment of anapparatus for laser assisted liposuction employing one of theafore-described needles or other needle embodiments including one ormore of the afore-described aspects or elements. Fiber optics typeconnector 116 (FIGS. 1, 4, and 5) may be implemented as a T-typeconnector 236 where fluid/liquid conducting channels 184 (FIG. 6A)connect directly to laser treatment products removal facility 168 via atube 274. This element simplifies cable 156 structure so that the cable156 contains a light guide only.

The apparatus disclosed above may also be used for skin tightening. Theneedle is inserted subcutaneously into a treatment recipient so that thefirst end of the fiber is introduced within the tissue underlying thedermis. Laser source emits radiation of suitable power that is conveyedby the needle to the dermis, where the radiation causes collagendestruction and shrinkage within the treatment area.

Advantageously, the described embodiments of disposable needles enablecontinuous adipose tissue treatment process eliminates, or at leastprovides great attenuation in, the need for frequent needle removal,cleaning, and cleaving. Further, this advantageously significantlyreduces the treatment time, makes the subject treatment more comfortableand simplifies the treatment process.

While the exemplary embodiments of the disposable needle and the methodof using it have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciatedthat various changes can be made therein without affecting the spiritand scope of the needle and the method of using it. The scope of theneedle and the method of using it, therefore, are defined by referenceto the following claims presented herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for adipose tissue laser treatment, saidmethod comprising: introducing into a target volume of adipose tissue aneedle comprising a light conducting body having a first end beingconfigured for introduction into adipose tissue and a second end,adapted to connect to a source of laser radiation including at least onelaser operating in a continuous operation mode (CW) and at least onelaser source operating in a pulse operation mode; causing the at leastone laser in operating in continuous operation mode (CW) and the atleast one laser source operating in a pulse operation mode to operatesubstantially simultaneously, wherein the laser operating in thecontinuous operation mode (CW) heats up the adipose tissue and the lasersource operating in the pulse operation mode induces mechanical stresson the adipose tissue.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein thelaser operating in the continuous operation mode (CW) and the lasersource operating in the pulse operation are at least one of a group oflasers consisting of a Ho—(Holmium) laser, Tm—(Thulium) laser or Er:Yag(Erbium Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) laser.
 3. The method according to claim1, wherein both laser sources affect the adipose tissue at the locationbeing irradiated.
 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprisingmonitoring the temperature of the target volume of the adipose tissueand adjusting the at least one laser source to avoid excessive damage tothe target volume of adipose tissue; and wherein monitoring oftemperature is performed by a temperature sensor mounted on a cantileverconfigured to follow the first end of the needle and measure thetemperature of the tissue surface.
 5. The method according to claim 1,further comprising operating simultaneously with one or more lasersources, a facility for adipose tissue laser removal.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein at least two laser sources with differentwavelengths are utilized to reduce bleeding.
 7. The method according toclaim 6, wherein the two lasers with different wavelengths are operatingat a wavelength of 1,064 micrometers and a group of wavelengthsconsisting of a wavelength of 0.9 micrometers and a wavelength of 0.532microns.
 8. A disposable needle for introduction into and treatment ofadipose tissue through the application of laser energy, the disposableneedle comprising: a light conducting body having a receiving endconfigured to connect at least to a multiple-source of laser radiation;and the disposable needle being further configured to be removablycoupled to two or more laser sources of the multiple-source of laserradiation, with at least one laser source operating in continuous (CW)operation mode and at least one laser source operating in pulseoperation mode and the laser operating in continuous (CS) operation modeand the at least one laser source operating in pulse operation modeoperating substantially simultaneously; and wherein the disposableneedle is configured such that when introduced into an adipose tissue,the disposable needle delivers the laser operating in the continuousoperation mode (CW) into the adipose tissue to cause the adipose tissueto be heated and the disposable needle delivers the laser sourceoperating in the pulse operation mode such that mechanical stress isinduced on the adipose tissue.
 9. A method for using the needle of claim8, said method comprising: connecting said needle to at least one sourceof laser radiation and operating the source of laser radiation;introducing the needle into a target volume of adipose tissue; andsupplying laser radiation of sufficient power to convert at least avolume of the adipose tissue into a liquid.
 10. The disposable needleaccording to claim 8, further comprising a temperature sensor locatedover the treated tissue volume and configured to follow the first end ofthe needle and measure the temperature of the surface of the tissue overthe affected tissue volume.
 11. The disposable needle according to claim8, wherein the temperature sensor is one of a group of contact sensorsor non-contact sensors.
 12. The disposable needle according to claim 8,wherein the temperature sensor provides the temperature reading to acontroller that controls laser power coupled to the treated skin volume.13. The disposable needle according to claim 8, wherein: the laser thatinduces mechanical stress on the adipose tissue is at least one of agroup of lasers consisting of a Ho—(Holmium) laser, Tm—(Thulium) laseror Er:Yag (Erbium Yttrium Aluminum Garnet); and the laser generatespulses in sub-millisecond or millisecond range.
 14. The disposableneedle according to claim 8, further comprising at least two lasers withone laser operating at a wavelength of 1,064 micrometer and a secondlaser operating at least at one of a group of wavelengths consisting ofa wavelength of 0.9 micrometers and a wavelength of 0.532 microns.